In Brief

Staff Reports

Des Moines, Iowa Church Sign Causes Backlash

DES MOINES, IOWA -- A suburban South Des Moines, Iowa church and its pastor are under fire after Pastor Mike DeMastus posted the message “Gay is not okay” on the church's back-lit marquee sign. According to the Pastor, "Gay is Not Okay," is the title of his next Sunday sermon and as he does with all of his sermons, he promoted it by putting the title on the church's illuminated marquee outside.

Demastus, pastor of the Fort Des Moines Church of Christ said that over the past couple of weeks, he’s had several conversations with people about homosexuality. Desmastus claimed that this will be the second time he has devoted an entire sermon to homosexuality during his 14 years with the church.

A local resident, Patrick Boltinghouse, got off work that night and while running an errand, drove past the marquee with its anti-gay message.

Boltinghouse, who is gay, said it was not the first time he’d something like this. Usually, he just ignores it. He said he wasn’t sure what made this time different. “Not everyone can laugh something this offensive off,” he said. He snapped a picture of the sign and posted it on Facebook with this message: “Greetings from the southside of DesMoines, IA … Just wanted you all to know Jesus loves you, even if it’s not ok to these biggots :) xoxoxoxo.” Soon, people were commenting on the picture, sharing it on their profiles. Someone created a Facebook page: “People against the bigots at Fort Des Moines Church of Christ.” The page had about 400 “likes” Thursday night. Another Facebook page announces plans for a protest from 8:00 to 11:00 am targeting Sunday’s service, and almost 200 people have said that they planned to attend. ~ The Des Moines Register

"Some people will go into the closet and pretend to have a family. Some people will go home and take their life," Boltinghouse said. "All because somebody thought their opinion from a religious belief should be fact."

The outcry that followed shocked pastor DeMastus, who told local television ABC5 News;

"When I did take it down it was when I received messages that indicated simply my address and the message, 'Hope you feel safe at home,'" DeMastus said."It's sad," DeMastus said. "This is the community that cries wanting us to be tolerant and I said gay is not okay, I didn't say gays are not okay."

Pastor DeMastus still intends to give his sermon this Sunday.

"I'm not going to have people threaten my family and my life because of a church sign, but I am gonna preach the truth from God's word," he said.

DeMastus has heard protesters will show up on Sunday. He says they can protest around the church, but will be arrested if they come onto church property.

Demastus said he knew the title was “provocative” but didn’t expect the reaction he has received. He changed the marquee at 244 E. Army Post Road on Wednesday night to read, “Adultery is not okay.” Desmastus also shut down the church’s Facebook page, after he said people had posted “vulgar” messages on the page. He filed a police report after stickers were placed on the outdoor marquee. He said he reported three threats to his home and family to police. ~ ABC5News 

Boltinghouse’s said he has no problem with religion; he grew up Catholic and his mother is a teacher at a Catholic school. What he has a problem with, he said, is an organization trying to judge and condemn people for being who they are. “A sign like this doesn’t bring people closer to God, it scares people away from God."

For his part, the pastor thinks people are misinterpreting his intent. His message was not to condemn homosexuals; but rather homosexuality., he claimed. “We are a group of people that love everybody,” he said. Desmastus said he has heard about the plans for protest. The church is working with police about having a presence at the church Sunday. He said protesters are welcome outside. “They are not welcome in our church service in any way,” he said.

Ben Stone, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, told local media outlets that the controversy is “exactly what make the First Amendment a beautiful thing." Desmastus' message created a conversation which has turned into a protest giving birth to a news story which has led to considerable debate and discussion.

Maryland House Of Delegates Committees Hear Same-Sex Marriage Arguments

ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND -- Two committees of the Maryland House of Delegates are hearing arguments on passage of two separate measures regarding gay marriage. Governor Martin O'Malley's bill to legalise same-sex marriage in the state along with another measure which political observers say is not expected to pass, that would create an amendment to define marriage as between one man and one woman to the state's constitution.

O'Malley, appearing before the House Judiciary and Health and Government Operations Committees Friday afternoon, testified that his bill to legalise same-sex marriage offers more protection to religious freedoms than any other same-sex marriage proposal in the country. The Governor told lawmakers to pass his bill to legalise gay marriage in order to provide children with stable homes.

Responding to questions from Republican Delegate Neil Parrott, O'Malley said Friday his bill would adequately protect religious freedoms of people who oppose same-sex marriage.

Parrott asked the governor to consider amending the bill to create specific protections for teachers, students and parents who worry that theories about gay marriage would be taught in schools. O'Malley responded that he opposes anything that violates religious freedoms.

Last year, the state Senate approved legislation to allow same-sex marriage, but the bill stalled in the House when some lawmakers retracted their support over religious and family values concerns.